Carteret, NJ – Mayor Dan Reiman has announced that Carteret’s Arts Committee will host the first installment of its 2012 “Coffee House” open mic night series on Friday June 22nd. The program, begun in 2008, allows local and regional artists to take the stage in an impromptu performance venue with few limitations.
Among the many recreation and arts programs introduced locally, the “Coffee House Open Mic Night” has stood out as the first of its kind in Carteret.
According to Mayor Dan Reiman, the series was introduced to provide artists with a new evening activity, but primarily to showcase local talent. Performances may include anything from music to drama. Unlike Carteret’s already popular Friday night “Concerts in Carteret Park,” and its Waterfront “Concerts by the Bay” on Sundays, the Coffee House program has been established to showcase local talent, as well as to provide a relaxed environment to congregate in, according to the Mayor.
The program’s promotional reach has been expanded to welcome musicians and other performers from throughout the region. Having earned the attention of the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, the Carteret Arts Committee has been awarded grants annually to assist with the printing of promotional materials. Promotion has also been extended to include web-based marketing and public-access television.
“This program encompasses many local interests,” Mayor Reiman has stated. “These Coffee Houses provide a comfortable setting for congregation, while putting the spotlight on regional talent that previously may have had no other venue.”
Mayor Reiman also remarked on the program’s growing popularity, and is confident it will continue for many years; “Our Coffee House has evolved into a Friday night hotspot for both performers and fans of contemporary live performance.”
The program has been coordinated by the Carteret Arts Committee, and sponsored by the Carteret Business Partnership. According to the committee, performances may include music, poetry, fiction, dance, and drama.
“Interest in the program has grown continually since its creation,” stated Arts Committee Chairman Ron McPhee. “The stage has been set as far as running the series is concerned, and locals have responded with an eagerness to either perform or listen. We’ve had rock and roll bands, saxophone quartets, acoustic acts, poets, and most recently a drama group has expressed interest in performing. Each installment has produced a different assortment of artists, which is what has made the program so exciting. If it’s live art, it’s welcome at our Coffee House.”
Open mic nights will be hosted on June 22nd, July 13, and August 10, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at the Thomas J. Deverin Community Center. Performances are held outside in front of Borough Hall.
To ensure interested performers can be accommodated, pre-registration is required for scheduling. Performers outside of Carteret are welcome. For inquiries, contact the Office of Public Information, (732) 541-3817, or emailmcpheer@carteret.net .
